Plow



Feb. 1,` 1944.

Icz. G. sTRANDLUND PLOW Filed June 9, 1941 INVENTO Patented Feb. 1, 1944 PLOW Carl G. Strandlund, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,183

9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and is particularly concerned with the provision of a new and improved rear end construction for plows and the like.

In plows of the three wheel type, generally constructed with front furrow and land wheels and a rear furrow wheel, the latter wheel usually has two functions. First, when the plow bottoms are lowered into operating position, the rear furrow wheel runs along the bottom of the furrow against the furrow wall and is so connected as to sustain laterally directed thrusts. Second, the rear furrow wheel is swingably mounted so that bymoving the wheel downwardly, relative to the plow frame, the latter may be elevated into its transport position, and when the rear furrow wheel, together with the front land andV furrow wheels, are in their lowered positions raising the frame into its transport position, it is desirable y to have the rear furrow wheel arranged to caster in order to provide for easy maneuverability of the plow. Therefore, the rear furrow wheel is usually arranged for generally vertical swinging movement and is so constructed and arranged that the rear furrow wheel is allowed to caster, or swing laterally, when the plow frame is raised but is locked against castering when the frame is lowered into operating position so as to sustain the laterallydirected thrusts mentioned above.

In certain soil conditions there are occasions when the frame andplow bottoms are bodily lifted momentarily out of the ground, and when that occurs, if the rear wheel is free to fall away from its locked position, it may not move back into its normal operating position, locked against 3e 'rauw of plow beams 2 3 and 4 suitably com l castering, until the plow moves some distance beyond the obstruction.

` The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of means for holding the rear wheel in its locked position, held against castering, even though the frame and plow bot'- toms should be lifted out of their normal operating position; Specically, it is'a feature' of this invention to provide means for holding the rear furrow wheel in its raised' position, relative to the frame, thus not only holding the wheel locked against castering but also loading a substantial portion of the weight of the wheel and associated parts onto the rear end of the frame, thereby increasing the resistance of the plow against being forced out of proper operating position and preventing undue wear of the rear end parts.

More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide spring means reacting through theo lifting connections against the4 frame` of the plow and through the swingable means connecting the rear wheel with the plow for holding the rear furrow wheel latched to the frame and for holding the wheel in its upward position, relative to 5 the frame, so as to prevent the rear furrow wheelV from becoming unlocked and swinging out of the proper position. Thus, when soil conditions are encountered that `result in raising the rear end of the plow, the furrow wheel does not drop down out of latched position, but is held in its upper position at al1 times, so that when the plow resumes normal operation, the rear furrow wheel is immediately available to sustain the laterally directed thrusts by engaging the furrow wall. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art'after a consideration `of the following l 3U into their transport position by the normal raising means.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1,

the frame of the plow is indicated in its entirety ,n by the reference numeral I and comprises a plunected together by cross bars and the like and by a rear diagonal bar 5. The plow bottoms are indicated by the reference numeral l, and each is fixed to the lower end of a standard 8 which at their upper ends are connected by suitable brackets 9 to the respective plow beams, the connections being such as to accommodate the diagonal bracing bar 5. The front end of the plow is sup- ,rported by va front furrow wheel I2 and a front land Wheel I3 connected, respectively, by crank axles I4 and l'withthe plow frame I. crank axles HI and I5 are suitably `connected together and the crank axle I5 is provided with 5U power lift construction mechanism, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I6 and inl cluding a depth adjusting lever II against which the clutch mechanism I6 acts through a link I8, as in conventionaltractors.

A DlOW ofths gen."` ,ieraL .type vis shown in my prior 'loateIV-I LND.;

V42 by a set screw 5,2.

is connected by an upper pair of links 21 and 2SY and a lower pair of links 3| and 32 to the rear beam casting S so as to be swingable generally in a vertical direction relative to the plow frame, The means for swinging the. crankaxle 22' grenerally vertically comprises a lever'li mounted for pivotal movement on the rear beam casting 9 by a pivot bolt 36. The` lever 3.5`'is connected by a link 3l to a forward extension 38 formed on the link 23. As best shown in Figure 2, rearward swinging. movement of. the lever 3.5; exerts; a downward-thrust through the link. 3.1; against the link` 28 raising. the sleeve 24 and the "associated crank axleinto its raisedposition; in which the frameM is. lowered into its: operating position. The member 3.5 onthe; plow frame is actuated at the same time that the forwardcrankaxles le andi I 5. are actuated-by the power lift [6.. To this end,;inarm 4| isA iixedto. or connected with the power lift crankv axle l5 and-is apertuiecl to receive thel rol-ward end of 1a. generally longitudinally extending linkfmernber 42', the rearv end of wl'lichfextendsA slicl'ablyV through a sleeve lli Vand pivotally connected by trunnions e!! with: the upper endof" the lever 35. The rear endfof the linkfmember 022 iszthreaded and receives a pair of look nuts 46.. A hammer strap.;4'| is secured tolfoxieside of the lever dtoy provide a support for one of the trunnions d'5'. A spring 'iis dis,- posed about the rear portion ofthe link e2 and bears at its forward end againstv av set; screw collar ai fadiustaloly. secured to the link; member Y rEhe Vrear end of theA spring it` bears against the forward 'endtof the. sleeve 43 that. is carried at4 theA upper end of the lever 35. Americhe-r 5.6i is. seouredto the upper end of the spindle.` 23,by'any suitable means, suc-h as a clampimember 5j! andv a pair; of clamping bolts 58aV and the merribery li'is providedwith a pair of cam` sections 6 between whiclris formed a notch S2. The upper end of the rear standard 8 is Vextended; asat so that when the rear wheel 2|.'andf crank axle 22-` are raised relative tothe plowira-me toY provide for lowering of the latter into operating; position, the extension 63 is disposedV inf. the notch 62 and, since,v the member 56 is clamped to the spindle 23, holds, the crank axle- ?.2- against lateralswinging movement about the generally upright axis dened by, the spindle section 23.: Thus.. the wheel 2l isV held against castering whenthev plow bottoms 'l arel in operating-position. When theoperator desires to raise, the plowV into, its.trahsportposition.. the power lift clutch fis4 actuated., which causes the forward crank axles la and Leto swine generally downwardly pairs of links21', 28 and 3|, E'Zfgenerally downwardly, thus raising the rear end of the frame upwardly relative to the furrow wheelV 2|. As the frame is raised the wheel 2| and crank axle 22 swing downwardly, thereby moving the cam member @t out of engagement with the extension part S3 on the plow frame, thus freezing the wheel 2| for castering movement, which facilitates maneuvering of the plow in its transport position,l as mentioned above. WhenL the farmer desires to lower the plow into operating position, heactuates the power lift clutch I5 so as to permit the crank axles lli and I5 to swing upwardly relative to the plow frame, and this movement VVVcauses the arm 11| to move the longitudinal link Vmember2- generallyrearwardly, bringing the on tne'merober 56 guides-the eert t3; ntofthenoten 62. so. that when, the. plow reaches.- 'itsr oneratine position the crank axle. 22 is locked against casterine,y movement these-ripa 50 is compressed sutieientlv to-holdthe reerwheel 2| and 1 associauad parts; up.y the position: in Figure 2 eventhoueh the rear endshouldmomentarily be raised.` BeineY thus 1 -leid.E in; locked pesi-tien, as showninflligurefz, withfthe extension` es, independent orf the frame. the rear furrow wheelV 2i sustains laterallyV directed thrusts.. assis necessary'. In. thisncsition; the. link member 42- moves `rearwardly aniaamount suioientto carryY the cushioning: springt awaygfrom the lifting` levery 3,5.

vFronti, the operation,` 'assoj fari described, it will beobserved' that if the plowi bottoms should be forced, out of.Y thevv ground; as bystriking a hard Y SDQ: or by the soil; balling up underneathv the plow bottoms, during operation; the. rearA end or the blo/V'wouldr be f lifted. and as; axresult, there'. is a tendency Ytor the weight. of the wneel'andspms.

dle to;V remain; in itsfl'owered or furrow. bottomf engaging position; with the lpossible result that the camzmember 5.6 rwouldI be `moved away from the 'upper end 631 ofthe standard 8; thus. unlocking the-rear furrow wheel 2 t and permitting the Samctmomentaililyto caster.^ YIf'this should ocn cur, the laterally directedforoes whichr would be set up as soon as; theplow bottoms again enter theoground might cause theV wheel 2|'Ito shift to one side-so thatafter-the plow passes.: the obstruct-ion 0rV the soil-1is cleared` awayI from um` derneath, the bottoms,`r the subsequent loweringv of the frame wouldzcause, the part 63,to approach the member 56 with the latter out. of'proper position, and theV plowwill movega few: feet forward beforethe cams-i| act to restore the rear wheel' t0 loi-moerl position; where the end;YV es can enter' the noten-62., According to. the present invention, however; no time is lost- Vbecause the. spring 50.; beingY compressed Vbetween .the set screw.I col-1f lar 5| `andv theA4 leverl35, acts -at-its forward end Y throushithe link 42. andthe arml 4| against-the plow frame and, atA itsA rear end,` through the leverffand associatedlinkage against thefrear furrow wheel crank .'axle, thereby exerting force ,tendingl continuously tohold the crank axle'.Y 22' in upward position, with the notchf'Z and the member 55 engaged with the part 63-1o`n the plowframe. Thus, even though the plows should beforced out: of the ground, raisingrtheiframe, the:Y

spring exerts; sufficient foreeto overcome they weight ofthe wheel 2| and:associatedpartsandi ing position. Of course, as described'above, when the lifting mechanism I6 and associated parts are actuated to lift the plow, the forward movement of the link 42 acts through the lever 35 to raise the `frame relative to the furrow wheel 2l, freeing the same for castering, the forward movement of the link 42 serving, in effect, to disable Athe crank axle holding spring 50. The tension which the latter exerts when the plow is in operating position (Figure 2) may be adjusted by moving the set screw collar 5I to various positions and securing it in the desired position on the link 42.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my inventionis not tolbe limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a plow, a supporting caster wheel mounted for vertical movement, means for raising and lowering the plow into and out of operating position, means for locking the wheel against castering when the plow is in its lowered position, said locking means being releasable when the plow is raised out of its operating position so as to facilitate making turns during transport, and means actuated by movement of the raising and lowering means into its lowered position for preventing the release of said locking means so long as said raising and lowering means is in its low- 4ered position.

2. A rear end construction for a plow or the like having a frame, ground engaging tool means thereon and a movably mounted member adapted for shifting the position of said crank axle, andV a spring encircling said link and connected at its forward end thereto and at its rear end to said lever, whereby said spring means acts through said link and member against said frame and through said lever against said crank axle for yieldingly holding the latter and said wheel in a raised position relative to the plow frame during operation.

3. A rear end construction for a plow or the like having aframe, comprising a crank'axle having a wheel fat the lower end thereof 1 and swingably mounted on said frame for both castering and generally vertical movement relative to said frame for raising and lowering the latter, means operative when the crank axle is in its raised position for locking the wheel against castering, and means on the frame for moving said crank axle and wheel into a raised position relative to the frame for lowering the latter relawith the frame so that the furrow wheel may caster about an upright axis,` and may be moved to raised and lowered position'with respect to the frame, means for automaticallylocking the wheel against castering when the Wheel has been movedI to raised position relative to the frame, and

means for yieldingly holdingsaid wheelin its raised position so as to prevent the release of said locking means when the plow is forced out Y of the ground.

tive to the ground, said means including spring loaded means whereby said crank axle and wheel 5. InV a plow, the combinationv of a frame, a

furrow wheel, an upwardly extending spindle ony which said wheel is mounted, means connecting the furrow wheel spindle with the frame so that the furrow wheel may caster about a generally upright axis and may be movedto raised and lowered position with respect to the frame, a locking member on the upper end of said furrow wheel spindle, a part on the frame and engageable with said locking member for locking the wheel against castering when the wheel has been moved to raised position relative to the frame, and means for yieldingly holding said locking member and said part in engagement so as to prevent the release of said locking means when the plow is forced out of the ground.

6. A rear end construction for a plow or the like having a frame, soil working means and a member movably mounted on the frame for raising and lowering the tool means relative to the ground, said rear end construction comprising a crank axle having a rear wheel journaled thereon, means swingably connecting the crank axleI with the rear portion of the plow for generally vertical movement relative thereto for raising and lowering the plow, a part mounted on the plow and operatively connected with said crank axle for raising the latter to accommodate lowering of said tool means and for lowering the crank axle to raise said tool means, means operatively connecting said part with said member, and

spring means connected at one end with said last mentioned connecting means and at the other end with said part, said spring means being biased so as to act through said last mentioned connecting means and said member against the frame of the plow and through said part and said first mentioned connecting means against the crank axle for holding the latter in a raised position` relative to the plow frame for loading the weight of the crank axle and wheel onto the plow when the tool means tends to lift said frame.

7. In a plow, a supporting caster wheel mounted for movement relative to the plow, lifting means movable from one position to another for raising the plow relative to said caster wheel into and out of operating position, means responsive to the operation of said lifting means lowering the plow relative to the caster wheel into operating position for locking said wheel against caster.- ing and responsive to the'operation of said lifting means raising the plow relative to the caster wheel into raised position for releasing said locking means to permit said wheel to caster, and yielding means actuated by movement of said lifting means when lowering said plowinto operating position for yieldably holding said caster wheel locked in its non-castering position.

8. In a plow having a supporting caster wheel mounted for movement relative to the plow, lifting means movable from one position to another` the plowl is forced out of the? for; raising;V the plow relatveto saidpoaster wheel into and out of operating position, and means responsive tothe operation of said lifting means loweringA the plow relative to the caster Vwheel into; operatingv position for locking said wheel against castering. andrresponsive to the operation of: said lifting means raising'the plow relativeV to thevcaster wheel into raisedposition for releasing-i` said locking imeans. toy permit said Wheel to caster, the combination: with said lifting means of: yielding` means` actuated by movement of said liftingv means when lowering said plow into operatingposition for yieldably holding said caster wheel looked in its non-castering position.

9.1 In;` a. plow havinga supporting caster wheel mountedfor movement, and a member connectedv therewith for moving-said casterrwheel,v the-coin:V bination of liftingmeans4 connecte'd withsad:

sition for releasing saidlocking means to permit.

said wheel to caster, and yielding meansv actuated by movement of saidlifting means when lowering said plow into operating position for yieldablyfholding said caster wheel locked in its non-cast:- ering position. i i

v CARL G. STRANDLUND; 

